Amongst the Aristocracy of the Ghetto.
[Judaica]. Raymond, Adolphus and Bunin, (Anna). Amongst the Aristocracy of the Ghetto. (Les noveaux riches). Sketches drawn from the life of the new-rich. Amusing, entertaining, and lively/Full of fun, humour, and pathos. London: Stanley Paul & Co, [n.d.].
8vo.; frontispiece photograph of Anna Bunin; very light foxing to preliminaries; small crack to hinge in front; maroon cloth, spine bumped.
First edition of this work of satire, described in the publisher’s advertisements in the rear as,
an unusual book dealing in a foceful manner with the domestic, social and religious life of the Ghetto aristocracy. It portrays their gross superstition and self-importance, and reveals many facts not generally known to those outside Jewish circles. Each chapter is alive; humour and pathos, satire and sweetness, are to be found in these pen pictures which are at once informative and entertaining, and without any idealistic atmosphere.
While pointed, the sketches are nevertheless quite funny due to an underlying affection for their subject—a group of women arranging marriages, giving parties, discussing religion, and, of course, gossiping wildly through it all. However, the authors are anxious to show how this society strays from real religion, distorting the celebrations of every occasion from the Sabbath to a Bar Mitzvah. Even the establishment of a charitable society has an unsavory beginning:
Mrs. Paisterman was in a charitable mood. She felt that there was something to be done somewhere, but she was not quite clear about it in her mind. She reflected. . .She was doing her bit now and again, but not the thing she wanted. She wanted to do something praiseworthy, “the real thing”—that which would give her a name, which would distinguish her from amongst her friends; she was thirsting for fame and honour—she wished to become a President. (p. 10)
Of course, the lack of real charitable feeling dooms the organization from the beginning, amazing the two characters who are foils, showing up the ridiculousness of the rest—Miss Brunin and Miss Lehrer. These two, along with a fair amount of class snobbery about the low-births of the nouveaux riche, also bewail the bad reputation they give to Jews. It is this latter concern that seems to be the impetus behind this humorous and penetrating book.
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